Vote for part-time workers' union includes students
Part-time employees, students included, are being asked to vote on October 19 on whether they support the idea of a part-time workers' union.
A part-time workers' union means that a third party would represent employees in negotiations involving employees' wages, benefits, job security and more, said Local OPSEU 109 president, Marg Rae.
It also means that those part of the union will need to pay union fees — 1.375 per cent of their wages earned, which is 100 per cent deductible for taxes.
Rae believes the union has been needed for a long time.
“There are 10,000 part-time employees and 7,000 full time (in Ontario),” she said. “They (part-time employees) don't have rights, they (the college) don't want to have to pay them their proper rate of pay.”
However, depending on the college, the formation of a union may mean students' ancillary fees may be affected, but not their tuition which is set by the government.
Don Sinclair, executive director of the College Compensation and Appointments Council, believes that the union isn't necessary.
“Colleges are good employers and we pay a competitive market rate,” he explained. “When a place becomes unionized, (it) becomes less flexible in terms of working conditions and environments — more rules about how you work.”
There's also “competing interests” between students and regular part-time support staff — there isn't necessarily similar collective goals, he added. It may be difficult to find consensus in the union.
But Rae sees the union's affect on the college as minimal, even if they succeed in negotiations for some of the issues like wages.
“Even if there is an increase in wages for part-timers — won't be a huge impact on the college,” she said.
Another consideration for voters is once an employee is in a union — it's not easy to get out. An opt-out case must be presented to the Labour Board and it has to be a specific reason.
But the union is also a “way of having a voice, of getting rights and entitlements,” said Rae.
Notwithstanding both sides' arguments, the vote is important for part-time workers to participate in because a small amount of votes can determine the outcome.
Regardless of how many come out to the polls, if more than 50 per cent of them vote one way or the other, the decision is made. So if only a couple people vote — they can determine the future of the rest of the employees.
The important thing is for those affected to make their opinions known, but students seem unaware of the vote. Despite being considered “savvy” and having opinions on the union by Sinclair, students seem ambivalent.
“Doesn't matter to me,” said Karol Makos, a part-time student employee at Fanshawe Athletics, on how he feels about possibly being unionized. Although he added that he wished the vote had been more publicized because “no one knows about it.” He suggested signs or an announcement at the Oasis could have helped.
Yet despite the lack of publicity, it's important everyone affected make their voices heard.
“Everyone hopes employees and students will come out and exercise their right to vote,” said Sinclair. “It's a big deal.”
The vote is taking place October 19 in room K1020 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
For more information on both sides of the debate, visit the College Compensation and Appointments Council site at http://thecouncil.on.ca and the College Workers' site at http://collegeworkers.org.
A part-time workers' union means that a third party would represent employees in negotiations involving employees' wages, benefits, job security and more, said Local OPSEU 109 president, Marg Rae.
It also means that those part of the union will need to pay union fees — 1.375 per cent of their wages earned, which is 100 per cent deductible for taxes.
Rae believes the union has been needed for a long time.
“There are 10,000 part-time employees and 7,000 full time (in Ontario),” she said. “They (part-time employees) don't have rights, they (the college) don't want to have to pay them their proper rate of pay.”
However, depending on the college, the formation of a union may mean students' ancillary fees may be affected, but not their tuition which is set by the government.
Don Sinclair, executive director of the College Compensation and Appointments Council, believes that the union isn't necessary.
“Colleges are good employers and we pay a competitive market rate,” he explained. “When a place becomes unionized, (it) becomes less flexible in terms of working conditions and environments — more rules about how you work.”
There's also “competing interests” between students and regular part-time support staff — there isn't necessarily similar collective goals, he added. It may be difficult to find consensus in the union.
But Rae sees the union's affect on the college as minimal, even if they succeed in negotiations for some of the issues like wages.
“Even if there is an increase in wages for part-timers — won't be a huge impact on the college,” she said.
Another consideration for voters is once an employee is in a union — it's not easy to get out. An opt-out case must be presented to the Labour Board and it has to be a specific reason.
But the union is also a “way of having a voice, of getting rights and entitlements,” said Rae.
Notwithstanding both sides' arguments, the vote is important for part-time workers to participate in because a small amount of votes can determine the outcome.
Regardless of how many come out to the polls, if more than 50 per cent of them vote one way or the other, the decision is made. So if only a couple people vote — they can determine the future of the rest of the employees.
The important thing is for those affected to make their opinions known, but students seem unaware of the vote. Despite being considered “savvy” and having opinions on the union by Sinclair, students seem ambivalent.
“Doesn't matter to me,” said Karol Makos, a part-time student employee at Fanshawe Athletics, on how he feels about possibly being unionized. Although he added that he wished the vote had been more publicized because “no one knows about it.” He suggested signs or an announcement at the Oasis could have helped.
Yet despite the lack of publicity, it's important everyone affected make their voices heard.
“Everyone hopes employees and students will come out and exercise their right to vote,” said Sinclair. “It's a big deal.”
The vote is taking place October 19 in room K1020 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
For more information on both sides of the debate, visit the College Compensation and Appointments Council site at http://thecouncil.on.ca and the College Workers' site at http://collegeworkers.org.
